Rosenfeld: Patrick Ahrens is the clear choice for Assembly District 26

With Election Day around the corner, we face a vital decision for our community’s future.

I urge residents to vote for Patrick Ahrens for Assembly District 26, a dedicated public servant, champion for working families and leader who has proven time and again that he understands the challenges we face. He has the vision and chops to address them.

Ahrens has long been a champion for equitable access to education, health care, affordable housing and environmental sustainability. He knows our district well, having grown up here. He attended local schools and has served our community for more than a decade. His experience as board president of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District equipped him with the expertise to get things done in Sacramento. Unlike his opponent, Tara Sreekrishnan, who has been notably absent from local discussions, Ahrens consistently listens to us and takes action.

His track record is clear: he’s tirelessly worked to improve higher education, securing funding for community colleges, reducing textbook costs and expanding workforce training. These efforts have positively impacted countless students in our district. On housing, Ahrens has been a vocal advocate, proposing balanced, thoughtful solutions to ease the housing crisis while preserving neighborhood character and environmental health. His opponent, however, has offered only vague talking points on housing, with no concrete plan to address the skyrocketing rents and displacement that burden our region.

He is also committed to environmental sustainability, not only to protect natural resources but also to create green jobs. His opponent, in contrast, lacks a meaningful environmental vision. Ahrens’ advocacy extends to working families as well — he supports paid family leave, wage equity and an economy that serves everyone, not just the wealthy few. Meanwhile, his opponent has a record of siding with corporate interests and opposing measures that benefit everyday workers.

While I respect the civic contributions of Sreekrishnan, recent revelations about her past behavior raise concerns about her alignment with our community’s needs. Instead of owning up to transgressions, Ms. Sreekrishnan chose to post baseless attacks about Ahrens on her campaign website, telegraphing the message for special interests backing her campaign. It’s important to acknowledge these issues, not as a campaign retort, but as a sober reflection on the kind of representation we want in Sacramento.

Ahrens’ campaign is rooted in transparency, accountability and a deep commitment to ethical governance. While PACs have funded independent groups that support both candidates, Ahrens has consistently made it clear that his values are not for sale. Despite PG&E’s independent spending in this race, Ahrens is on the record as supporting the concept of locally owned and operated power companies, as exists in Santa Clara. He will work for us — our families, students and local businesses — not for political donors or powerful lobbyists. This is the kind of leadership we deserve, and is precisely what Ahrens has delivered throughout his career.

This election boils down to trust. Ahrens has spent years earning ours through his transparency, dedication, responsiveness and commitment to real results. His opponent has yet to demonstrate that same level of commitment or understanding of our district’s issues.

As we head to the polls, we have a chance to elect a leader who will fight for us everyday in Sacramento, someone who has both the heart and know-how to move our district forward. That leader is Patrick Ahrens.

Esther Rosenfeld is a family law attorney and mediator for more than 20 years, and author of “Transformative Divorce: from Broken to Blessed.” She is a founding member of the Bay Area Jewish Coalition, a grassroots organization.